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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

A- P. GHAGE. VELOGIPEDE.

No. 433,720. Patented Aug. 5, 1890.

EIJES" i (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A. F. GHAGE. VBLOGIPEDE Patented Aug. 5, 1890.

5 WI E5555.

, UNITED STATES PAT NT O FIcE.

ALBERT F. CHAOE, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN S. MOULTON, OF SAME PLACE.

V E L O C I P E D E SIECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 433,720, dated August 5, 1890. Application filed January 24:, 189 0. Serial No. 338,003. (No model.)

vide an improved spring-seat which shall be r more comfortable and commodious than those now employed.

My invention com prises levers through the medium of clutch mechzo anism, the said driving -wheel engaging a wheel arranged on the main axle and connected with the same by means of a clutch mechanism, so that by the movement of the levers the wheels will be operated to drive the machine ahead, while the manner in which the wheel on the main axle is connected with the latter permits of the ready movement of the machine backward.

My invention also comprises a seat sup- 0 ported upon springs operating at various points near its edge or circumference, so that it may yield from a horizontal position when borne upon at any point touching an imaginary line radiating from its center or yield 3 5 bodily in a vertical direction.

My invention will first be described in connection with the annexed drawings and letters of reference marked thereon, forming a part of this specification, and then be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tricycle embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same, the seat being removed. Fig. 3 is a side view of the portion of the clutch mechanism which is attached to the axle to be driven and the clutching-dog and its immediate adjuncts attached to the part of the clutch that is operated by the lever. Fig. 4 is a front view of a clutch mechanism that may be employed in a driving-wheel which is adapted to be operated by means of the invention. Fig. 5 is a detail, partially in section, showing themanner of supporting the seat in my improved tricycle.

In the drawings, a designates the main axle provided with the usual wheels b. Upon the main axle a is arranged a gear 0, provided upon one, or it may be both, sides with a clutchinechanism d, secured to the shaft. This clutch is so devised as that when the gear 0 is driven forward, as indicated by the arrow 1 in Fig. 2, the clutch will be engaged or locked with the said gear and be impelled in the same direction; but when the gear is left free the wheels I) and axle a may be run" backward with entire freedom.

e designates an axle journaled in suitable bearings connected with the hounds f, and g designates a gear-wheel fixed upon axle e and constructed and arranged to engage and drive gear-whcel c. A clutch mechanism 71.,similar to clutch mechanism cl, is arranged on each end of axle c, the part of each of which clutch mechanism movably arranged on axle 6 being connected with a lever t'. The construction and arrangement of the clutch mech- 7 5 anism are such that as the levers are moved backward and forward the gear-wheel g will be impelled in the direction indicated by the arrow 2.

In Figs. 3 and 4 I have shown a clutch mech- 8o anism that is well suited for the purposes heroinbefore mentioned, though any similar contrivance calculated to perform the same func tion may be-employed. In the said figures, j designates thepart of the clutch which is fixed 8 5 to the axle e and gear 0, and 7c the part that is attached to axle a and levers i. The part j is recessed in its side, so as to admit of the part 70 partially entering and operating therein, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4. c The part It is provided on its inner face with a pivoted dog Z, adapted to rest on a pin m, and barely out of contact with the face rn. of rim 0 on part j when the part 76 is moved in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 3; but when 9 5 the said part is moved in a direction oppo-v site to that indicated by the arrow the dragspring 19, connected with the dog Z, will move the latter, so as to bring its free end into engagement with the face a of rim 0 and so lock the two parts together, as will be readily understood. The moment the part It is moved in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 3 the free end of the dog Z will be disengaged from the face '21 of rim 0, and the spring 19, dragging on the face of partj, will move the dog back upon pin m.

g designates the seat, which is provided with three, or it may be more, legs 7, which rest upon springs 8, arranged in socketed standards 25, extending up from a frame it, supported upon the hounds f and axle a. Any suitable means may be provided for preventing the legs 7" from bounding out of the sockets of standards t.

'0 designates the forward guide-wheel suitably arranged in a frame which is pivotally connected by a bolt w to the forward end of the hounds f, which may be provided with a rack as, which engages with a pinion y on the rear end of the frame of the guide-wheel, said frame being also provided with a crossbar 2, upon which the feet of the operator may rest when the machine is being impelled. With this construction great power can be easily exerted by the occupant of the scat q to drive the machine ahead, and with his feet resting upon the cross-bar z it can be readily guided in any desired course.

By varying the respective sizes of the gears c and g the speed at which the machine may be run with respect to the time in which the levers 'i are operated may be regulated to suit Varying purposes.

By providing a clutch mechanism to connect gear 0 with axle a, I am enabled, when required by necessity, to run the machine backward.

' It is obvious that changes may be made in the form and arrangement of parts comprising my invention without departing from its nature or spirit. For example, the gears c and 9 might be constructed as sprocket-wheels and connected by means of a chain arranged on the said wheels.

WVhat I claim is 1. In a velocipede, the combination of the driving-wheel, its axle, a clutch mechanism to operate the said axle with a lever for operating the clutch mechanism, the main axle, a gear-wheel thereon engaged by the first-. mentioned wheel, and a clutch mechanism to connect the gear on the main axle with the latter, as set forth.

2. In a velocipede, the combination, with the driving-wheel and its axle, of the levers 2' 2', connecting mechanism between the said levers and wheel, whereby the latter may be operated, the main axle and the wheel 0 thereon, and a clutch mechanism for connecting the latter gear with the main axle when the said gear is operated to move the velocipede forward, as set forth.

3. In a velocipede, the combination, with a supporting-frame, of socketed standards connected with said frame, springs in said sockets, a seat, and legs connected with said seat and extended into said sockets and resting upon the said springs, as set forth.

In testimonywhereofI have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 14th day of January,

ALBERT F. CIIACE.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR W. ORossLEY, A. D. HARRISON. 

